Description: Benkei is reaching a crossroads in his life: With his schooling coming to a climax, he is quickly becoming the top academic in his year. Yet, despite his stunning achievements, he finds his life bitter, meaningless, and boring. Daniel Jack, his former fellow student within the Todoh Dojo, encounters him, and sets his life on the straight and easy. Which is to say, he lures him back into the self-destructive world of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu.
Benkei Bunya hasn't studied his martial arts in quite some time. After his mother declared that martial arts were dangerous, he was forced to give up on his studies of Todoh's secrets. Now sixteen and a junior in highschool, he's still on his way to become class valedictorian at Taiyo High. Now taller, but still geeky and bespectacled, he walks through Southtown Village, a deep sadness about him. He misses studying under Master (?) Todoh, even if it gave him a feeling of power. Forlorn, the young man gazes into a small pond, frowning. Soon, he'll graduate highschool and move on to college. But is he really a man, or just a big child? He wishes he had the answers.
Master Todoh may be on his wandering again. Kasumi... may still be in school, forever as Senior. Seriously, how is it that Daniel and Benkei are getting old, and she is staying the same?
It always left Danny dazed and confused.
The detective was taking a lunch break at the moment, having overseen the slaying of the crabgrass beast with his old rival and friend, Zach. As Daniel continues forth, he stops, doing a double take. There was a familiar face, or mostly familiar. A little more pimples, and little more mature. And just staring into the dark pools of the pond. The detective takes off his hat, and brushes back his hair as he approaches the familiar kid. Belting out, he rushes towards the teenager with a swaggering stride.
"Benkei?"
"Benkei Bunya, is that you?"
Daniel's voice rouses Benkei from his reverie, the teenager looking up with bewildered eyes behind his thick glasses. "Oh my...Danny? Danny Little?" He turns about to face Daniel, immediately shoving his hands into the pockets of his khakis nervously. What would teenagers do without pockets? "Yeah, it's me. Hi." He gulps a bit, having thought he'd left his life as a martial artist behind. His throat cracks a bit as he speaks, still going through the ferocious beast known as puberty.
The detective -winces- at both the name and the voice.
"Daniel Jack. Danny Little.... Just no. No." The detective shakes his head, moving up beside the teenager. "But hey, it's been almost three years, hasn't it? My god, look at you." The detective gives Benkei the once over. "You've gotten scrawny. Don't you do any sports or anything? Eh, doesn't matter. Have you eaten yet? We need to catch up on the times. I'll buy you a burger. Any kind you want." The detective jerks a thumb a way a ways, where a McDonalds sits.
"What have you been doing with your life?!"
Benkei blushes a bit as he's corrected, hoping his lax memory didn't offend his old friend. "Daniel Jack, sorry. I, uh, forgot." He leans to the side a bit at the McDonalds, knowing he's not supposed to eat fast food (mother says it has thumbs in it), but willing to make an exception just this once. "Sure, sure, that'd be great." His shoulders a bit raised, he looks at the ground. "Oh, nothing much. Still going to school. Dad says I'll definitely be valedictorian. Gonna graduate a year early, you know how it is. Then I gotta decide what to do with my life..."
Daniel Jack escorts his old fellow student (though now it would be closer to pupil!) towards the McDonalds. With the lunch rush in full swings, the crowd of sweaty, hungry Japanese men and women all form a line before the counter. Daniel leads himself and Benkei to the back of the line, and the detective eyes the menu carefully. He didn't like McDonalds, not as much as some of the great resteraunts back home. But, like many things, it was better than no burgers whatsoever. Benkei nervously belts out his life, the detective nods firmly.
"Graduate early? Well, damn son. You sound like you are on the fast track to success."
Daniel Jack turns away from the menu, looking at Benkei. "Well, it looks like you have it made for yourself. What do you want to do with your life. I mean, hell. What are you good with?" Daniel dusts off his suit a bit, picking off a loose blade of crab grass. "I mean, graduating at the top of your class is fine and dandy and all, scuzzy, but where do you want that to take you?"
The line moves up significantly, the eve of ordering approaching.
Benkei keeps his hands in his pockets, still looking between the ground and Daniel, as the pair wait in line. "Oh, I dunno...Law, business, medicine...Dad wants me to go to Oxford or Harvard or Princeton..." He sighs deeply, apparently rather sad at this turn of events. "But I have no clue. I mean, I haven't had fun - real, actual fun - since I studied under Master Todoh. But mom says martial arts are too dangerous, so that's the end of that." He bites his lower lip, peering up at the menu.
Daniel Jack looks up at the menu. He wanted some sirlon, some real meat. But alas, all that this McDonalds could offer in 'exotic treats' is a straight Big Mac. Man. "I'm probably going to get the Big Mac. Law, Business, Medicine... those are all status fields, not fields of passion. What are you really passionate about, kid? You like law? You like running a business? Or hell, do you even have a draw to the medical field?"
The line finally moves to the Todoh duo.
"I mean, hell. What your Dad says, what your mom says; Not to disrespect your parents, but you are becoming a grown man. If you go into college thinking about what THEY want instead of what you want, you will never really grow up until you crash and burn. I mean, hell. Is that why you left the Dojo?" Daniel Jack turns away from Benkei for a moment, to the cashier.
"Yeah, I'd like a Big Mac Value Meal? Make it a Large. What about you Benkei?"
Benkei frowns deeper, having been thinking about the very things Daniel is talking about. "Yeah, that's why I left." He blinks up at the menu, pushing his glasses up with a finger, before stating, "I'll take the McNugget meal, please," he states politely to the girl behind the cash register, his voice squeaking a bit. He looks back at Daniel. "I don't know, Daniel. I really don't know. Sometimes, I think all this school work, all these extracurricular activities...I mean, if they don't make me happy, what's the point?"
Daniel Jack shrugs paying the nice lady before flashing a winning smile. Walking to the side, he begins to wait for the order. "Your parents aren't bad people, they are just looking out for your best interests. It's hard in the real world, and it doesn't always make you happy. Being a class-A student is a great thing to be, not gonna lie."
"But it doesn't make you happy."
The detective pauses, looking at Benkei. "Why not take the time to do some Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu on the side. I can even make it pay for you, in a manner of speaking." The detective reaches into his jacket, and draws out a weathered paper. HOlding it out to Benkei, he nods firmly. "
I mean, heck, have you heard about the Neo Development League?"
"It is a promotional venture from Ken Masters for B and C-list fighters to get their name out for the big leagues. If you win a fight, you get $100,000 American Dollars. I've won two of them; and split the money with the dojo. I know your family wouldn't want to pay for lessons in Todoh-Ryuu, but if you are interested, I might cut you a deal. You take part in some of these promotional fights, and split the winnings with the dojo, and your tuition is free. You get all the training, just like the old days. And if your parents catch you? Well, hell. $50,000 goes a long way for tuition, doesn't it?"
'Order up, Mr. Jack' The woman calls out, holding out a tray of Burger, fries, and nuggets.
Benkei takes the paper, peering at it from behind his glasses. "Huh." As he thinks this over and stands meekly beside Daniel, he stares at the paper. "A hundred thousand dollars..." Walking along after Daniel to a seat, he sits, and sets the paper down. "You know, that's just crazy enough to work...I can fight again?" He strokes his hairless chin as he contemplates this, picking up a French fry and biting into it.
Daniel Jack nods, taking a seat across from Benkei. "It would really be closer to $50,000 in your pocket, but considering that it will be free for you otherwise, the real draw would be the promotion. People might remember Todoh-Ryuu if ONE person is competing in the league. But Kyokugen has one person competing in it as well! With two people though, why, it is a full-out Todoh-Ryuu advertising blitz!"
"But as for fighting...."
Daniel Jack chomps down on the burger, chewing and swallowing. Taking a sip of his soda, he makes sure his mouth is clear before continuing. "You have been out of practice for three years, so we may need to whip you back into shape with a refresher course. But once you get cleaned up, you should right and ready to go. Think of it like... like a job. Yeah. You are working in advertising. And if you hit it big; you might bring home the real big bucks."
"When do you have free time these days, Benkei?"
Benkei holds out his hand before him, a small ball of red chi appearing in it. Maybe he's not completely out of practice after all. The ball fades, before he picks up a nugget and eats it. "Yeah, I need to get back into shape...But I remember it like yesterday. I don't have a job - I'm free on weekends, I suppose." He breaks out into a smile, the first honest smile in a long time. "I'll do it, Daniel. Count me in!" He sips his Coke, as he swallows the nugget.
Daniel Jack smiles that winning smile. "Then it is a deal. Great to have you back, Benkei. I'll try to be around on weekends. I'm a busy detective nowadays, but I'll make time. And if I can't make time, I'll track down Kasumi to make you time. Master Todoh is... he is out wandering again." The detective looks away, polishing off his burger. "He, uh. Does that. If I can't be there, I'll try to get you the message. But it is sure great to get a smart student like you back in the saddle!" The detective eyes the nuggets that Benkei has.
"Can I snag one of those?"
Benkei blushes at Kasumi's name. Some things never change. "Sure, have one," he says, pushing his nugget box towards Daniel. "It's a deal. I'll start training again, and hopefully, my parents don't find out." A few years ago, Benkei would never have dreamed of this - but he's older now, getting into his rebellious years, and has started to resent his parents more and more. "Maybe some day I'll be able to punch my father," he says, before instantly regretting he said that.
Daniel Jack grabs a nugget, chomping down on it. He does notice Benkei's blush. But who wouldn't blush at Kasumi? Daniel Jack wouldn't, because all his feelings towards his Todoh instructor is purely platonic and within the boundaries of the student/teacher relationship. Daniel does think of Kasumi any different than, say, Ryuhaku Todoh. In fact, why is he having this argument in his head?
Daniel Jack pauses.
"... No, lets not use Todoh-Ryuu to punch your father. But, just imagine the look on his face when you show him that you not only can fight with the best of them, but still pursue whatever academic or career you want, and be darn successful in it." Daniel Jack finishes off the fries. "I mean, heck, who can argue against $50,000!"
Benkei grins widely, a changed man. "Sounds good to me!" He finishes off his nuggets and slurps his Coke. His cellphone rings, and he looks at it, frowning. "It's mother. I gotta go, Daniel. Thanks, thanks a lot!" He stands from his seat, and hurries out of McDonalds, before answering his cellphone and walking off into the foot traffic around the Village.
Log created on 10:34:35 04/09/2012 by Daniel, and last modified on 12:07:39 04/09/2012.